Your Brain’s Secret Superhighway: Why Cranial Nerves Matter (And How Your Neck Might Be in the Way)

By Dr. Hunter N. Black

Let’s talk nerves. No, not the ones that make you sweat before public speaking—though we’ll get to that—but the cranial nerves. These 12 little bundles of biological brilliance are like the VIP express lanes between your brain and the rest of your body. And guess what? They travel right through the neighborhood of the upper cervical spine—that’s where I come in.

I specialize in Blair upper cervical chiropractic, which means I focus on the top two bones in your neck—C1 (atlas) and C2 (axis). These two little bones sit right beneath the brainstem, and if they’re even slightly out of alignment, they can affect how your body communicates, feels, heals, and functions—including your cranial nerves.

So what are these cranial nerves, and what do they do?

Let’s break it down—no Latin quiz required. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves, each with a specific job. They control things like your senses, facial movement, digestion, and even your heart rate. They’re basically the “IT department” of your head and upper body—except when the system crashes, it’s usually not from clicking the wrong link, but from nerve interference.

Here’s a quick (and slightly fun) rundown:

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 CN I – Olfactory

Smell. If you’ve ever cried over an onion or felt joy from fresh-baked cookies, thank this one.

 CN II – Optic

Vision. More than just “can you see,” it’s also how your brain interprets what you see.

 CN III, IV, VI – Oculomotor, Trochlear, Abducens

Eye movements. These three are the dream team for tracking, focusing, and not looking like a cartoon character when you try to follow your finger.

 CN V – Trigeminal

Big one. Controls facial sensation (touch, pain, temperature) and muscles for chewing. It’s like your face’s home security system.

 CN VII – Facial

Facial expressions, taste on the front of your tongue, some glands. Basically, the reason you can smile, frown, and enjoy chocolate.

 CN VIII – Vestibulocochlear

Hearing and balance. If you feel dizzy or off-balance, this guy might be involved—and upper cervical misalignments can affect it.

 CN IX – Glossopharyngeal

Taste (back of tongue), swallowing, and some autonomic control. Kind of like the unsung hero of dinner.

 CN X – Vagus

This one’s huge. Controls heart rate, digestion, mood, and more. The vagus nerve is like your body’s chill-out button—and it passes right near the upper cervical spine.

 CN XI – Accessory

Shoulders and neck movement. Trouble shrugging or turning your head? This one might be grumpy.

 CN XII – Hypoglossal

Tongue movement. Ever tried talking with a numb tongue? Enough said.

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How does this tie into Blair upper cervical care?

Your brainstem is the control center where many of these cranial nerves originate. The C1 and C2 vertebrae sit directly below it, like the pedestal holding a very expensive, very fragile sculpture. If that pedestal shifts—through trauma, poor posture, or even just sleeping weird—it can twist, compress, or irritate the nerve pathways.

Even small misalignments can create big problems:

• Headaches

• Dizziness or vertigo

• Vision or hearing issues

• Difficulty swallowing or speaking

• Facial tension, numbness, or TMJ symptoms

• And yes, even gut issues—thanks, Vagus Nerve!

Blair upper cervical adjustments are super precise, super gentle, and customized for your unique anatomy. When we realign the top of the spine, we remove interference from the nervous system—and often, people notice improvements in areas they never expected.

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What’s next?

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be rolling out a video series diving deeper into these cranial nerves in small, bite-sized, slightly nerdy (but fun) segments. We’ll group them by function—like all the eye movers together, or the ones that help you taste and chew. The goal? Help you understand how deeply connected your neck is to your head and health.

So stay tuned—and in the meantime, take care of your neck. It’s doing a lot more than just holding your head up.

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